Daily Retreat 06/22/07
2007 Jun 22 Fri/Paulinus of Nola, bp/John Fisher, bp, mt, and Thomas More, mm, mt
2 Cor 11:18. 21-30/Ps 34:2-3. 4-5. 6-7/Mt 6:19-23
From today's readings: "Since many boast according to the flesh.... From all their distress God rescues the just.... Store up treasures in Heaven, where neither moth nor decay destroys, nor thieves break in and steal...."
Paul's Boast
As mentioned, in the last chapters of 2 Corinthians, Paul responded to certain criticisms raised by opponents who were preaching errors. By boasting of their own "impressive" credentials, these imposters had also sought to debunk Paul's authority as an apostle by capitalizing on the Corinthians' ignorance of Paul's apostolic track record (since Paul preferred preaching about Christ to talking about himself, the Corinthians were evidently unaware of many of his apostolic activities and sufferings).
Exasperated by the fact that the Corinthians were being misled so easily by these pseudo apostles, Paul stoops to his opponents' level and starts boasting about his own heroic faithfulness: "But what anyone dares to boast of (I am speaking in foolishness) I also dare.... Are they ministers of Christ? (I am talking like an insane person). I am still more, with far greater labors, far more imprisonments, far worse beatings, and numerous brushes with death!"
It's worth reading all of Chapter Eleven to appreciate how heated Paul's boast became! But, as Paul insists, his boast is not for his own glory - he just wants the Corinthians to realize that he really knows what he's talking about in preaching the true gospel of Christ! Even more, Paul intentionally but paradoxically frames his boast in a way that insists that his own heroics arise only from the strength of God working through Paul's human weakness. That's the type of boast it's always o.k. to make!
2 Cor 11:18. 21-30/Ps 34:2-3. 4-5. 6-7/Mt 6:19-23
From today's readings: "Since many boast according to the flesh.... From all their distress God rescues the just.... Store up treasures in Heaven, where neither moth nor decay destroys, nor thieves break in and steal...."
Paul's Boast
As mentioned, in the last chapters of 2 Corinthians, Paul responded to certain criticisms raised by opponents who were preaching errors. By boasting of their own "impressive" credentials, these imposters had also sought to debunk Paul's authority as an apostle by capitalizing on the Corinthians' ignorance of Paul's apostolic track record (since Paul preferred preaching about Christ to talking about himself, the Corinthians were evidently unaware of many of his apostolic activities and sufferings).
Exasperated by the fact that the Corinthians were being misled so easily by these pseudo apostles, Paul stoops to his opponents' level and starts boasting about his own heroic faithfulness: "But what anyone dares to boast of (I am speaking in foolishness) I also dare.... Are they ministers of Christ? (I am talking like an insane person). I am still more, with far greater labors, far more imprisonments, far worse beatings, and numerous brushes with death!"
It's worth reading all of Chapter Eleven to appreciate how heated Paul's boast became! But, as Paul insists, his boast is not for his own glory - he just wants the Corinthians to realize that he really knows what he's talking about in preaching the true gospel of Christ! Even more, Paul intentionally but paradoxically frames his boast in a way that insists that his own heroics arise only from the strength of God working through Paul's human weakness. That's the type of boast it's always o.k. to make!
posted by FrPitstick | 6/18/2007
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